The Wizards are expecting the return of guard Mike James, perhaps as soon as Monday when the team hits the practice floor at Verizon Center.

James is not the only guard who could soon be ready to rejoin the fold. Mike Miller (calf) is believed to be getting close, and so is Javaris Crittenton, who has yet to appear in a game this season.

There is, however, little intrigue as to how James will fit in the team's plans when he's healthy and ready to go. Before he was injured (broken left ring finger) back in early November, James, who is earning $6.5 million in the final year of his contract, had five DNP-CDs next to his name. The Wizards clearly were shopping him last summer, and before the injury he was very vocal about coach Flip Saunders not talking to him about his role with the Wizards.

"Who knows?" James said when asked if he thinks he'll be traded. "I don't know what my future has ahead of me. All I can do is prepare for today, prepare for the best, prepare for the worst," James said. "The best could be being here and something happening and I'm playing well and I'm here. The worst could be I get traded. Whatever lies in my future, that's out of my control."

PISTONS 98, WIZARDS 94: The Wizards played one of their most uninspired games of the season in losing to the undermanned Pistons. Caron Butler led the Wizards with 20 points and 10 rebounds but he didn't get much help from the other starters. Antawn Jamison (13 points) was the only other starter to reach double-figures. Earl Boykins came off the bench to score 18.